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Picked up second two eco - gas mileage not as good as first

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Fuel Economy' started by galownia, Mar 24, 2016.

  1. galownia

    galownia Previous master neon mechanic

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    I liked my wife's blizzard pearl two eco, that when my daily driver broke, I replaced it with a black two eco. So now we have "his and hers" priui. Love it, but I'm noticing very different gas mileage between the two cars. Both have been used on the same route to and from work. Similar conditions. Let's call the black two eco "His" and the white one, "hers."

    His: ~53mpg average over the last 150 miles (200 on ODO)
    Hers: ~58mpg average over the last 500 miles (900 on ODO)

    A couple of observations:
    His came with 21 miles on the odometer. Hers came with 272
    I notice that the engine tends to run more on His.
    Not confirmed yet, but it seems batter is lower when I come back to the car than when I left it in His

    Hypothesis:
    Engine break in not complete on His - will a complete break in really increase mileage 5mpg?
    Something wrong with the battery - I will watch this. If I can confirm it is draining while parked, back to Toyota it will go

    Any thoughts or comments? Right now, I can't say I'm impressed with His. If Hers had performed like His did, I would not have bought a second one.

    Jonathan
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats! 'his' still on the dealer tank?
     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Is the MPG measured by a fill up, or is it just the dash read out. Don't expect the read out to be adjusted the same.

    Take a look at the tires. The more wear on them, the lower the rolling resistance is to be expected, but make sure they are at the same pressures, and even brand. Also check the oil level.

    Other than that, just give it some more time. I give them until a 1000 miles before I'd start considering any major issues.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you gotta me sure the second fill up to be sure.
     
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  6. galownia

    galownia Previous master neon mechanic

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    Thanks! Yes, still dealer tank.
     
    #6 galownia, Mar 24, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2016
  7. Jon Senum

    Jon Senum Member

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    Different driving habits should also be considered.
     
  8. galownia

    galownia Previous master neon mechanic

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    Thanks - Reading is just the dash right now. I've considered the tires and will have to look at them this evening. I won't start ringing alarm bells until maybe the 3rd tank. I would assume the oil would be ok from the dealer, but I'll check on that as well.

    I've been driving both cars on the same route with the same driving style, so this shouldn't be a concern in this case.
     
    #8 galownia, Mar 24, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 24, 2016
  9. galownia

    galownia Previous master neon mechanic

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    .
     
    #9 galownia, Mar 24, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 24, 2016
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good idea on the tyre s pressure and oil, you never know. are they the exact same tyres? some have been reporting odd model numbers i think.
     
  11. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    My experience with a non-Prius is that if I say ½ fill the tank, the dashboard readout won't be as accurate as if it's taken to the first click. Even if it came with a "full tank", the dealer might have been a little approximate with their fill. The dashboard readout is often a good indication, but isn't accurate enough for conclusive comparisons.

    The only way to compare properly would be to fill both tanks to the same extent (ie first click of bowser), same bowser, same position parked while filling. Then drive both for the same distance and re-top the tanks. THEN, do the same thing, but swap driver - you could be amazed by the difference that makes. It could be driving style - or the amount of stuff you take with you compared with what she has in her car. Or even your own mass compared with your wife's mass. It could even be that you drive the same route ½ hr later every day when the traffic is more conducive to what a Prius would like.

    Best way to do it is to keep a spreadsheet on fuel use - I've done that for the last 26 years, and it produces some interesting results.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed, the more tank average's the better. bowser's can be finicky.
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You're having second thoughts on the car even though you're getting a minimum 53mpg? You won't find 2 cars that will be identical, it will always vary by a little.

    You definitely should let both cars completely break in before doing any comparisons. Maybe after 1000 miles on the clock
     
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  14. galownia

    galownia Previous master neon mechanic

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    Thanks. I may have to do that experiment. I kept a sheet on my last car, a 1998 Dodge neon. That thing, even to the end, was getting 32mpg consistently in the winter and 35mpg in the summer. Not bad for a 18 year old car with heavy modifications (was previously my race car).
     
  15. galownia

    galownia Previous master neon mechanic

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    Ha. Good point. It is still a great car. The problem was expectations after the first one. I'll wait for break in and measure by gallons and miles rather than the dash readout, and then see what we get.
     
  16. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    Don't discount the impact of even 5* in the outside air temperature on the day it is driven, either.

    Especially for the first 5 or 10 miles after startup (or so it seems).

    At my latitude, the temperature swings have been significant and almost random.
     
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  17. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The factory fill may have been done by weight. It should be the same level between the cars, but you never really know, and it is something easy to check.

    Outside temperatures influence a number of things that can influence fuel economy. Tire pressure and rubber flexibility change with temperature. Then the grease in wheel bearings and CV joints need to warm up without the help of ICE heat. Just to name a couple.
     
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  18. tzx4

    tzx4 Active Member

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    Not sure what happened, but the first fill up of my TWO Eco, the dash display claimed 77mpg when the pencil and calculator said it was 61.x mpg.
    The following three fill ups have the dash display claiming 1.5 - 2% optimistic.
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    has to be where the pump shut off. it doesn't take much to change the equation significantly.
     
    #19 bisco, Mar 24, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2016
  20. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

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    You might have a lead foot. I do